Gabby Kientzle, gabby.kientzle@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC – On Friday, a group of Senate Republicans and Independents Manchin and Sinema introduced a Congressional Review Act resolution attempting to overturn a rule, released this spring by the White House Council on Environmental Quality, which would guide federal decision making under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).
This rulemaking, which was initiated with Phase 1 in 2022, reverses Trump-era attacks on bedrock environmental protections and ensures reviews fully and accurately consider the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of proposed projects. It also requires that affected communities are consulted as early as possible and have a meaningful opportunity to have their voices heard.
In response, Sierra Club Director of Beyond Fossil Fuels Policy Mahyar Sorour released the following statement:
“Those who wish to weaken our environmental protections on behalf of corporate polluters present a false choice between environmental justice and meeting our energy needs. The truth is that the Biden administration’s common sense update to NEPA would bring more certainty and transparency in the NEPA process, and allow for more abundant clean energy resources to come online at the pace we need. Those who are seeking to overturn this safeguard are once again doing the fossil fuel industry’s bidding at our communities’ expense. We urge Congress to reject this irresponsible effort and call on President Biden to veto it if necessary.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.